Drogba ready as Canadian rivalry spice MLS playoffs

AFP, Montreal :
Didier Drogba and the Montreal Impact face a showdown with rival Toronto in Tuesday’s first leg of the Major League Soccer semi-finals, which also features a Seattle-Colorado opening matchup.
The conference finals will determine what two teams advance to the December 10 MLS Cup final, with either Toronto FC or the Montreal Impact set to become the first Canadian club in the championship match.
“It’s the kind of game that can be a fantastic experience for football in Canada,” Impact striker Drogba said. “This is the best thing that could happen for this country. The way people are so passionate here about the game, it’s amazing what we’ve been doing, what the fans have been doing, so I think it’s going to be great for the future.”
The former Chelsea star controversially did not suit up for Montreal’s first two playoff games, citing back issues, and the 38-year-old Ivory Coast playmaker likely will be a substitute Tuesday as he was in a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls earlier this month.
“To win the conference final would be something huge, knowing the history of the club and where we started when I first came and where we are now,” Drogba said. “I think there’s a lot to be proud of so it would mean a lot.”
The first leg of the Eastern Conference final was moved from the Impact’s natural grass home field to the artificial grass of Olympic Stadium, the enclosed main venue for the 1976 Summer Games, to allow for a possible crowd of more than 60,000 — triple the usual Impact capacity.
“Any time you mention turf in MLS, guys kind of roll their eyes a little bit,” said Toronto defender Drew Moor. “It’s the same for both teams. It’s not going to be a factor at all.